Wednesday, October 03, 2007

10MHz PSK and PropNet

Courtesy of ARRL News, this looks interesting....perhaps something new to try this weekend?

Mark the "Play on PropNET" Weekend on Your CalendarPlay on PropNET is a two-day, worldwide event designed to promote PSK31 and propagation study on the 30 meter band. This event, scheduled for 0000 UTC October 6 -2359 October 7, will be on 10.1395 MHz. Simply download PropNetPSK, a free PropNET software program, configure it for your station and activate for the weekend.

PropNetPSK software will place the PSK stream at +1500 Hz (10.1410 MHz true). In normal operation, the software will cause your station to automatically ID at regular intervals (several times per hour) throughout the weekend. If your licensing authority requires that an operator be present whenever transmitting, switch to "Lurker" mode when you are away. This will allow your station to monitor and report anything that is heard, even if it isn't transmitting

PropNET uses the Internet as a reporting tool. Participants who are connected to the Internet (even using intermittent dial-up connections) will have their reports sent to a mapping system that will graphically display everything that is "caught" (a PropNET term for received). Transmitting stations will have their call signs shown on the map. Receive-only stations (Lurkers) will display using their 6-cipher grid-locator rather than call sign. Don't worry if you don't have an Internet connection at your station, as others will hear your transmission and report it to the Internet.

As an added benefit, all stations that report activity will have their activity added to an animated GIF file at the end of each UTC day. All worldwide activity will be captured to that animation and will be able to be played back at a later time.

All amateur and SWL stations worldwide are encouraged to participate for this first event of its kind. Thanks to the 30 Meter Digital Group for suggesting this activity and to the PropNET community of experimenters for supporting it. -- Ev Tupis, W2EV